Local

County officials say some of the playground equipment at the Heath Springs Town Park isn’t safe to use and want the issue addressed.
At its Tuesday meeting, Heath Springs Town Council discussed a letter it recently got from Lancaster County Parks and Recreation. In it, director Sherry Wilson asked the town if it could provide more than $11,000 to pay for improvements at the park and at the town ball fields.
She said all of the equipment needs to follow National Recreation and Park Association guidelines.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
The Catawba plant of Resolute Forest Products, formerly AbitibiBowater, is shutting down one of three production lines for a two-week period beginning today.
The company’s human resources manager, Barry Baker, said the shutdown will affect 95 employees and is a response to a traditionally slow time of year for the paper business.

By Nita Brown
For the Lancaster News
If you ever drive north on U.S. 521 toward Charlotte, or come to Lancaster from the Indian Land area, you know Jason Mackey. Well, you might not know him, but you know his front yard, just north of Shiloh-Unity Road.
At Easter, Halloween and particularly at Christmas, the trees and front yard are always filled with the season’s decorations.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Lancaster County Council will meet to discuss an economic development project during a special meeting Thursday.
County Administrator Steve Willis said council members will meet to discuss an economic incentive agreement for an already existing county business. The company, Horton Machine and Custom Design, is located about seven miles south of Heath Springs.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Lancaster police officers swarmed a local convenience store Sunday night searching for a man who robbed the business only minutes earlier.
The armed robbery happened about 11:10 p.m. at the Crenco Exxon convenience store, at 1449 S.C. 9 Bypass, according to a police department incident report. Police arrived about four minutes later and spoke with the store clerk.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
As Christmas quickly approaches, families in need will have a chance this week to find much-needed toys for their children.
The Lancaster Police Department, in conjunction with local crime-awareness group Lancaster Alternative Policing Strategy (LAPS), will hold a free toy giveaway event on Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. The giveaway, which is open to the public, will be held at the city of Lancaster’s 15th Street Complex, located at 916 15th St.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
VAN WYCK –The list may have been smaller this year, but Betty George’s desire to help her community was as big as ever Saturday afternoon.
George, postmaster of the Van Wyck post office and organizer of the Van Wyck Angel Tree program, donned her Santa hat and headed off to several homes Saturday with bags of toys and boxes of food, hoping to make Christmas a little brighter for several families. This was her 11th straight year helping with the program.

Lancaster County
Community Foundation
The Lancaster County Community Foundation has awarded a total of $11,060.67 to four nonprofit groups in Lancaster County.
The foundation awarded a $7,560.67 grant from the Lancaster County Citizens Law Enforcement Fund to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
The vision includes 500 college students living in the city of Lancaster – each one representing a $21,000 surge to the local economy.
They will live in housing units on Brook Drive, within walking distance of the University of South Carolina Lancaster campus.
The setting gives the area a “true campus feel,” while attracting young adults who may become permanent residents in the future.